Between 485 & 705 SQ/FT Denver MCM garage expansion
- Thread starter kwyjibo
- Start date
Workspaces between 485 and 705 squarefeet.
Brian - The cooler is a great addition. I finished it just in time for the cooler weather. Once again, I regret not just getting off my **** and doing it sooner (like, in time for the hottest part of summer)
Cash - Your trip to Vail sounds less than optimal. I may be going back up that direction later this week to see the end of the Colorado Grand.
Bmwtie - lol. I may have to borrow your meme.
I have no good updates for the garage while the work on the e30 is going on. I've been working on the final design for the pergola slats and should be ordering the lumber soon.
Back to the e30
The motor work is stalled while I wait for a few more parts to be delivered. But I'm having a hard time removing the drive components. A few of the bolts for the transferase and transmission are a real pain - not only are they hard to get at, but they're also frozen tight. Not a good combination. The manuals and online forums haven't been too helpful: "remove the four bolts". Thanks.
Here's the engine midway through the water pump/timing belt job:
The guibo has seen better days
And, of course, time consuming diversions keep popping up.
One morning I looked out the window and saw the hazard lights flashing on the e12 under the cover. The button is commonly the problem and usually can be "fixed" by jamming the button in the off position with something like a toothpick. This 40 year old button has a spring that is strong enough that this fix only lasted a few seconds before popping back out and activating the emergency flashers. Oh, and you can't just unplug it because the turn signal circuit runs through it. Instead of buying a new one for $60, I decided to open it up and fix it. The little catch mechanism was broken beyond repair, so I decided to just glue it in the off position. This hack fix should be good as long as I don't get stranded on the side of the road.
Cash - Your trip to Vail sounds less than optimal. I may be going back up that direction later this week to see the end of the Colorado Grand.
Bmwtie - lol. I may have to borrow your meme.
I have no good updates for the garage while the work on the e30 is going on. I've been working on the final design for the pergola slats and should be ordering the lumber soon.
Back to the e30
The motor work is stalled while I wait for a few more parts to be delivered. But I'm having a hard time removing the drive components. A few of the bolts for the transferase and transmission are a real pain - not only are they hard to get at, but they're also frozen tight. Not a good combination. The manuals and online forums haven't been too helpful: "remove the four bolts". Thanks.
Here's the engine midway through the water pump/timing belt job:
The guibo has seen better days
And, of course, time consuming diversions keep popping up.
One morning I looked out the window and saw the hazard lights flashing on the e12 under the cover. The button is commonly the problem and usually can be "fixed" by jamming the button in the off position with something like a toothpick. This 40 year old button has a spring that is strong enough that this fix only lasted a few seconds before popping back out and activating the emergency flashers. Oh, and you can't just unplug it because the turn signal circuit runs through it. Instead of buying a new one for $60, I decided to open it up and fix it. The little catch mechanism was broken beyond repair, so I decided to just glue it in the off position. This hack fix should be good as long as I don't get stranded on the side of the road.
Attachments
Last edited:
I had a quick consult with a friend that runs VSR, a BMW-focused shop back in NH, about my troubles with the drive shaft. He assured me that I was on the right track and just need to break the splines on the shaft free with a good yank on a pry bar. Yes! he was right. I'm so happy to show this photo:
On to the next crappy job - the upper pair of bolts on the transmission.
On to the next crappy job - the upper pair of bolts on the transmission.
Attachments
smschriefer
Well-known member
Sorry about the issues, but you are doing great. Not to add to the list, but is the hose in the first picture bad? Also, at least with the switch repair you can disconnect the button to make it work. 
Sorry about the issues, but you are doing great. Not to add to the list, but is the hose in the first picture bad? Also, at least with the switch repair you can disconnect the button to make it work.
Which hose?
I had unplugged the switch for a couple days so that I could get around town without alerting everyone to a non-existent hazard but the turn signals are inop in that condition. The connector is a 6(?) pin that includes the signals.
I took a break from automotive work and spread the last of the beach pebbles out in front of the house. It looks like I'll need another ton to finish out my plans. And if I could only get rid of that pile o'dirt, I could finish the landscaping
Attachments
smschriefer
Well-known member
Post 442 the larger of the two hoses at the thermostat housing. It might be the angle. I'm not sure if it is or not, it just looks odd to me.
I drove a couple hours out to the Vail ski area for a car show. I've never actually stopped by here (its right on I70) but its a very nice place to have an event. Some of the cars were right in the village but most were in a field at the base of the hill. This spot at the fountain would be a nice place to spend a day hanging out - I will definitely consider entering this event next year
...and my favorites from the morning. Both the C-type and 300 SL were from the East Coast. The owners were nice guys and had some friends in common, but I don't remember ever meeting them.
oh, and my garage - I finally finished the Mr Cool installation. I originally paused earlier this summer when I was waiting for the line cover to be delivered. We've had record-breaking heat for the past couple weeks so AC is a welcome addition.
Great pics!
Missed that event by one weeekend.
We stayed in east vail about 5 min from the village.
Steve - I see, it looks like a big bulge in the hose. The hose is good but it does look like the diameter increases more than normal, like the hose is too small.
Chuck - Did you overlap with any of the cars participating in the Colorado Grand?
FedEx finally found and delivered the last of the parts. The engine is back together.
Also, I got the transferase out so hopefully the transmission is next:
Chuck - Did you overlap with any of the cars participating in the Colorado Grand?
FedEx finally found and delivered the last of the parts. The engine is back together.
Also, I got the transferase out so hopefully the transmission is next:
Attachments
In my joy that the last parts order was delivered, I didn't notice that a couple key parts were missing. Turns out that they're backordered. I should have known that it was too good to be true that every part on the site was listed as "in stock" and shipped in 2 days, if ordered in the next ____ minutes. BS.
small update on pergola project while I wait for parts - I still need to fit the top board that covers the roller mounts and adjust the hardware, but the barn door is hung.
small update on pergola project while I wait for parts - I still need to fit the top board that covers the roller mounts and adjust the hardware, but the barn door is hung.
Attachments
Last edited:
Arclitgold
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 20, 2017
- Messages
- 317
That wood looks amazing! It’s gorgeous. Please remind me what kind of wood it is?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
nicholam77
Well-known member
Patio/courtyard looks amazing!
Thanks guys! I'm back to focussing on the pergola again while I wait for the backordered e30 parts. Next up: slats for the pergola.
Arclitgold - The courtyard is lined with clear Western Red Cedar siding that's been treated with transparent Penofin oil.
I went on a birthday cruise yesterday up through the Rocky Mountain National Park with a couple friends. (not my birthday, the owner of the outlaw 356). Absolutely beautiful drive. At this time of the year there is light traffic, cool weather and the aspens are just beginning to turn. As a bonus, the old cars performed well.
Arclitgold - The courtyard is lined with clear Western Red Cedar siding that's been treated with transparent Penofin oil.
I went on a birthday cruise yesterday up through the Rocky Mountain National Park with a couple friends. (not my birthday, the owner of the outlaw 356). Absolutely beautiful drive. At this time of the year there is light traffic, cool weather and the aspens are just beginning to turn. As a bonus, the old cars performed well.
Attachments
I agree, I've even had fun driving my mother-in-law's minivan up there.
minor update: barn door is done. But the bottom of the door rubbed the wall so I added another roller on the inner side. Sometimes being a hoarder pays off - I used a bolt and spacer from a destroyed BMW guibo (from post #442) to elevate a pair of 40 year old bearings from a skateboard wheel. Perfect.
Attachments
The pergola framing is done. I just need to hang the cedar slats to be completely done. The problem is that that I don't have the cedar 2xs - the mill is still working on them. Also, I was planning on using Simpson Stongties hangers, but nobody seems to have the hangers I want in stock and the Simpson employees are on strike. While I wait, I'll go back to work on the e30 that has been sitting up on jack stands.
Attachments
ODIS
Well-known member
Such nice progress! Nicely done!
Thanks, Odis! Good to see you posting again
Sooooo.... interesting couple of days here. It was 80 degrees yesterday. It never hit 30 today. The good news is that the Mr Cool minisplit passed its first real heating test. Also, the cedar 2x10s were delivered yesterday, so I had enough time to move, stack and cover them before the snow started.
btw, we'll be back to sunny and in the 50s tomorrow and 70s by the end of the weekend.
Attachments
I only have one positive update - Home Depot has ordered the joist hangers for the pergola. They should be here next week.
A few friends and I got together for a morning drive yesterday before winter weather takes over for the rest of the year. The roads were quiet for the early part of the drive before we started coming across more traffic by lunchtime
A few friends and I got together for a morning drive yesterday before winter weather takes over for the rest of the year. The roads were quiet for the early part of the drive before we started coming across more traffic by lunchtime
Attachments
We were lucky to avoid being lit upOh man, those roads! Couldn't ask for a better scenery.
All kinds of illegal stuff comes to mind when I see twisties like these
I finally got the transmission out of the e30!!! I was starting to think that I'd never see this view:
There is a notorious bolt on these transmissions that can sometimes resist all efforts to loosen. Unfortunately, I had to fight this one. Basically the problem is the lack of good access to the upper bolt, above the starter. You can see in the photo that there is a strangely polished hump (upper left) on the transmission, the starter gear sits in there. It's clean because I had to squeeze my hand between that and the transmission tunnel so that I could try to place the e14 socket at the end of two wobble extensions (which are themselves at the end of two feet of extensions) on the partially stripped Torx bolt sitting at the top.
We've had a few days of snow but I hope that it'll be gone by the weekend so that I can get to work on the pergola again.
Attachments
I did get around to test fitting a few slats on the pergola. I'm using concealed flange joist hangers from Simpson Strong-Tie so I needed to trim the ends of the boards to get a flush fit. I'm happy the joints so I'll cut the rest to match.
Here are a few of the boards temporarily mounted
Here are a few of the boards temporarily mounted
Attachments
Buzz Lightyear
Well-known member
Lookin' good! 
Thanks Buzz!
quick update before the weekend - I got about a dozen more boards oiled and mounted in the wider central section. I'm going to stop working on this section because I need to think through the design for the last few feet to account for a fireplace that I hope to install in front of the CMU wall. So I'm starting to work on the shorter cantilevered sections
quick update before the weekend - I got about a dozen more boards oiled and mounted in the wider central section. I'm going to stop working on this section because I need to think through the design for the last few feet to account for a fireplace that I hope to install in front of the CMU wall. So I'm starting to work on the shorter cantilevered sections
Attachments
Arclitgold
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 20, 2017
- Messages
- 317
Wow that looks gorgeous!
I’ve heard of that bolt on the e30s... it has a much less friendly name.
I can’t wait to see what you do with it!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I’ve heard of that bolt on the e30s... it has a much less friendly name.
I can’t wait to see what you do with it!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Thanks Arclitgold. I had a few choice names for that bolt.
I trimmed some more pergola slats. The front third are oiled and mounted, the back dozen are just temporarily sitting on the hangers. I still need to oil those boards.
I met up with my friend Saturday morning at his garage to take the E9 out for the last drive of the year. I didn't take any photos of the drive, but here's a mid-shuffle pic.
The E30 is still waiting on a couple things to be delivered but I need to get it done quick - the registration is up this month and I need to get it emissions tested before I can renew.
I trimmed some more pergola slats. The front third are oiled and mounted, the back dozen are just temporarily sitting on the hangers. I still need to oil those boards.
I met up with my friend Saturday morning at his garage to take the E9 out for the last drive of the year. I didn't take any photos of the drive, but here's a mid-shuffle pic.
The E30 is still waiting on a couple things to be delivered but I need to get it done quick - the registration is up this month and I need to get it emissions tested before I can renew.
Attachments
I finished hanging the pergola slats
So now I've gone back to the finishing details. First up, a cap for the barn door (you can also see it above). I trimmed a 1x6 down to cover the top of the door and cutout a couple of sections to clear the hanging hardware
Second, to finish off the "window" on the full cedar wall, I cut a groove into a 5/4" deck board to fit onto the tongue of the top cedar siding board. I finished the top of the adjacent door in the same way.
Lastly, I'm working on trimming a board down to sit on top of the CMU blocks. It'll give the wall a more finished look and help keep water from getting into the wall. You can see it sitting on the wall in the last post.
I know that I'm jumping the gun, but I've been talking to some local Porsche pros to get a plan ready for the 911 targa project. Even though it'll still be a while before I can start on it, I'm getting started on finding some parts
So now I've gone back to the finishing details. First up, a cap for the barn door (you can also see it above). I trimmed a 1x6 down to cover the top of the door and cutout a couple of sections to clear the hanging hardware
Second, to finish off the "window" on the full cedar wall, I cut a groove into a 5/4" deck board to fit onto the tongue of the top cedar siding board. I finished the top of the adjacent door in the same way.
Lastly, I'm working on trimming a board down to sit on top of the CMU blocks. It'll give the wall a more finished look and help keep water from getting into the wall. You can see it sitting on the wall in the last post.
I know that I'm jumping the gun, but I've been talking to some local Porsche pros to get a plan ready for the 911 targa project. Even though it'll still be a while before I can start on it, I'm getting started on finding some parts
Attachments
Last edited:
Brian R
Well-known member
Outstanding work - looks great.
nicholam77
Well-known member
Beautiful work, Kwyjibo
Thanks for the comments guys!
In standard Colorado fashion, the weather has been highly variable around here so I haven't been able to get much done on the garage-related projects. And now Thanksgiving has snuck up on me. I'll hopefully get the e30 back on the road by the end of next weekend....
I finished the board for the top of the CMU wall. I took about 3/8" off the bottom to give the board a lip. I don't have a saw large enough to make a 9" deep cut so it took a combination of circular saw, router, chisel and hand plane to remove the material.
In preparation for the 911 project, I dug the engine case out of storage. It was out of the car and apart for over a decade before I found it. But, with the exception of spiders and cat litter, it looked pretty good: crankshaft turns easily, rod bearings felt smooth, and etc. To be safe, I brought it over to one of the local air-cooled Porsche gurus for a consult. After I clean it up, he'll be tearing it down and measuring, but thought it was likely going to be ok. I hope to be going back soon to my friend's garage where the car is stored to start inventory and inspection of all the parts.
In standard Colorado fashion, the weather has been highly variable around here so I haven't been able to get much done on the garage-related projects. And now Thanksgiving has snuck up on me. I'll hopefully get the e30 back on the road by the end of next weekend....
I finished the board for the top of the CMU wall. I took about 3/8" off the bottom to give the board a lip. I don't have a saw large enough to make a 9" deep cut so it took a combination of circular saw, router, chisel and hand plane to remove the material.
In preparation for the 911 project, I dug the engine case out of storage. It was out of the car and apart for over a decade before I found it. But, with the exception of spiders and cat litter, it looked pretty good: crankshaft turns easily, rod bearings felt smooth, and etc. To be safe, I brought it over to one of the local air-cooled Porsche gurus for a consult. After I clean it up, he'll be tearing it down and measuring, but thought it was likely going to be ok. I hope to be going back soon to my friend's garage where the car is stored to start inventory and inspection of all the parts.
Attachments
Last edited:
Loving this thread I have friends that live up above Fort Collins and have a condo in Winter Park, so have spent lots of time in Colorado. Where abouts are you?
My house in the UK is kind of mid centry style, we take lots of MCM and apply it to our house. Love the garden features
Cheers Andy
I have friends that live up above Fort Collins and have a condo in Winter Park, so have spent lots of time in Colorado. Where abouts are you?My house in the UK is kind of mid centry style, we take lots of MCM and apply it to our house. Love the garden features
Cheers Andy
We have spent a bit of time up in the hills above denver just off the i70, especially around the area where the space ship style house is on the LHS as you drive up away from Denver. Also used to like visiting the antique centre that was around that way. We bought a snuffer there that now hangs on out dining room wall. Must come back soon.
That's the house used in Woody Allen's Sleeper. It's owned by a local car guy. I talked to him a few times before I saw this one night:
https://denver.cbslocal.com/2018/10/29/sleeper-house-major-renovations/
I'm still recovering from Thanksgiving - hope to have updates soon
https://denver.cbslocal.com/2018/10/29/sleeper-house-major-renovations/
I'm still recovering from Thanksgiving - hope to have updates soon
hemicuda1313
Member
Just read through the full thread. Love all of the details you are bringing in and the cars are fantastic too. I am looking to do a few projects with some cedar and located in Denver. Where are you sourcing the wood? I may have missed that if you already posted.
Thanks for the comment, hemicuda. Depending on price and/or availability I got the cedar from two places: Specialty Wood Products (https://swp.net) and Front Range Lumber (https://www.frlco.com). If you're going to use Penofin on the cedar, I found that the local Ace Hardware had the best price.
hemicuda1313
Member
Awesome! Thanks for sharing the details.
Merry Christmas all!
Quick holiday update.
- The E30 is all buttoned up and roaming the streets under its own power. I hope that I can get the 911 project in soon.
- I've been trying to source hardware for the audio cabinet/credenza. The problem is that I have a very particular set of criteria for the design I have in mind.
- I need to get back to the trim in the tandem garage and make a couple cabinets for the single garage.
- Another friend has bought a garage in a car condo complex. He's already used the electrician and flooring guys that I used in my project. I was over checking out the newly epoxied floors when I heard an expensive sounding engine fire up across the way. I waited a couple minutes for this beauty to come rolling out:
...not a bad neighbor to have. There's apparently some very impressive machinery stowed away in this complex.
Quick holiday update.
- The E30 is all buttoned up and roaming the streets under its own power. I hope that I can get the 911 project in soon.
- I've been trying to source hardware for the audio cabinet/credenza. The problem is that I have a very particular set of criteria for the design I have in mind.
- I need to get back to the trim in the tandem garage and make a couple cabinets for the single garage.
- Another friend has bought a garage in a car condo complex. He's already used the electrician and flooring guys that I used in my project. I was over checking out the newly epoxied floors when I heard an expensive sounding engine fire up across the way. I waited a couple minutes for this beauty to come rolling out:
...not a bad neighbor to have. There's apparently some very impressive machinery stowed away in this complex.
Attachments
Last edited:
